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The Sly Seduction of Alcohol A situation where you have a houseguest who overstays their welcome doesn’t start that way. It starts with an invitation. The person comes over because you asked them to. Then, time goes by, and life gets cluttered. The welcome wears thinner with each passing hour. Or for this analogy’s sake: day or week or year. Eventually, you find yourself asking: “How did this happen?” When covering the long-term effects of alcohol, how things started might not even matter. But it started somewhere, and you probably weren’t thinking things would get here. Though it was innocent enough, you probably weren’t thinking of long-term effects when you took that first sip of wine. Now, things have changed. That one-time guest is a permanent resident. With lots of demands. As it turns out, it also causes quite a bit of damage.   Here’s a chilling stat to start: Around 5.3% of deaths globally are linked to alcohol consumption (WHO). Think of that next time someone brushes off the long-term effects of alcohol. It doesn’t get any more definitive than death to sober things up a bit. Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on The Body Alcohol is a poison. Not exactly the kind of poison you see in a medieval fantasy movie where a person empties a vile of a dark liquid into the king’s drinking goblet. And everyone at the banquet then watches him choke. The actual part of alcohol that affects you is called ethanol. Without it, you could drink beer all day long and not worry about toxicity (or intoxication). But with it, first, you have the psychoactive effect of feeling buzzed. Then you have the poison. What makes alcohol or ethanol a poison is what it gets turned into at its next stop in your body—your liver. Your liver turns alcohol into poison: acetaldehyde. If you had a vile of this, it would get the job done if you put it in a goblet. The Poison As a result of drinking alcohol, the relatively small dosage of acetaldehyde that is created means you don’t die from one beer, but you are releasing it into your body, where it damages whatever it can. Acetaldehyde damages cells and DNA, contributing to the development of conditions like cancer. The World Health Organization (WHO) lists ethanol as a Group 1 carcinogen, right alongside asbestos and tobacco smoke. When you repeatedly drink or drink heavily, you are creating a cumulative poisonous situation—overloading the liver, damaging organs, and disrupting vital systems. Here’s a short list of the long-term effects of alcohol on your body: Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on Your Brain It doesn’t stop there. Research shows that long-term heavy drinking can shrink the brain by up to 1.6% per year, compared to 0.5% for non-drinkers (PubMed). Brain shrinkage is never a good thing. Besides the shrinking, alcohol messes with your neurotransmitters. With long-term drinking, you are going to find your memory getting worse, your decision-making getting out of control, and your motor control slipping away. Then there is something called “wet brain.” This is actual brain damage that is a long-term effect of alcohol. With this condition, symptoms start with confusion but get quite a bit more serious from there. Think memory loss, confusing fiction with reality, eye problems, walking problems, and irreversible brain damage. Alcohol and the Brain How Alcohol Affects Your Appearance You might not care if your face gets droopy or ashy in color. But most people do. If you have been drinking for a long period of time or heavily drinking for a moderate period, you can believe your mirror is showing signs. You may be familiar with the broken capillaries that spider their way across a person’s face. Or you may have heard of the puffiness or redness (ruddy complexion). But there is also the fact that alcohol depletes collagen. Wrinkles showing up in your selfies more than they used to? It could be a result of your alcohol intake. Then there is the weight issue. Alcohol is calorie-dense, and they are empty calories. One beer could be like eating a candy bar. And would you pack away seven candy bars a day and expect to keep your six-pack intact? Other ways alcohol Can affect your appearance: Hair Thinning and Brittle Nails: Alcohol dehydrates the body and depletes nutrients like zinc and biotin, essential for healthy hair and nails. Puffy, Bloated Appearance: Alcohol causes fluid retention and inflammation, leading to puffiness in the face and extremities. Dark Circles and Tired Eyes: Poor sleep from alcohol consumption contributes to under-eye bags and a perpetually fatigued look. Teeth and Gum Health: Sugar and acidity in alcoholic drinks can lead to tooth decay, gum disease, and bad breath. The Addiction and the Slow Unraveling Back to our original idea, if you have had alcohol in your life for a long period of time, it’s likely the one calling the shots. You may see all these changes to your body, to your mind, and your overall health, but if addiction is a factor, it doesn’t matter. Alcohol abuse disorder needs more than wanting to feel better or look good to overcome. It is a chronic brain disease that overwhelms your will and your control to keep you coming back to the bottle no matter what you really want. Get Help With Long-Term Alcohol Abuse Today Alcohol doesn’t have to keep calling the shots in your life. If you’re ready to take back control, Palos Verdes Outpatient Addiction Treatment offers expert care, evidence-based treatments, and compassionate support to help you reclaim your health and future. Contact us to start your journey toward lasting recovery. Call Peninsula Health Care today: 866-934-8228.

The Window to the Soul The window to the soul. That is the traditional understanding of our eyes. Maybe this is one of the reasons it is so disconcerting when someone we know and love deeply avoids eye contact. Or if they are okay with it, we see something that seems off. A blank look, dazed, almost like we are looking at someone who is not there. This is often how we feel when we see the glossy eyes from drugs. Interestingly, the person using the substance might not even be aware of the state of their eyes. If you are experiencing glossy eyes or know someone who is, the signs are there. Glossy eyes can come from drug use. There are multiple substances that cause it; however, other things in our environment may cause this as well. So it’s important to know the difference.  Here are some of the drugs that cause glossy eyes, how it happens, and what to do about it. The Science Behind Drugs That Cause Glossy Eyes The scene feels a bit like chaos. Though the person seems a bit calm, the eyes have a strange ability to project instability when they are not working correctly, even when the redness or the glass comes from something like allergies. Aside from how it makes us feel, biologically, the issue is in the tear glands. Some drugs, such as opioids and alcohol, can overstimulate the tear glands. This means they get glassy. There are also situations where glossy eyes could be a defensive reaction to irritants brought on by drug consumption. Then you have substances like cocaine, methamphetamine, and hallucinogens. In this situation, the central nervous system is affected and causes mydriasis (basically, it’s where a person’s pupil dilatates). When this happens, the reflection in a person’s eyes seems exaggerated. This gives a glossy effect. Common Drugs and Their Impact on the Eyes Alcohol Marijuana Opioids (e.g., heroin, oxycodone) Cocaine and Methamphetamine Benzodiazepines (e.g., Xanax, Valium) Hallucinogens (e.g., LSD, psilocybin) Ecstasy (MDMA) Amphetamines (e.g., Adderall) Recognizing the Signs Beyond Glossy Eyes It is important to remember drugs are not the only reason for glossy eyes. A person may be deprived of sleep or nuzzling something that causes an allergic reaction. There are several things: windy days, chlorinated water, dehydration, hormones, or plain old sadness. So how do you know? Communication is the only true way to know if someone has glossy eyes from drugs. However, the first signs of addiction or drug abuse are often the physical ones. Here are a few behaviors to look out for. These are just a start, but if they are present alongside the glossy eyes, the signs may point to drug use. Drugs that Cause Glossy Eyes: Clearing the Fog If you believe someone you know (maybe yourself) is abusing certain drugs that cause glossy eyes, there are risks in simply ignoring the signs. When a person has physical symptoms of drug use continually, it is likely that addiction or dependence has already set in. The way to clear the fog is professional addiction treatment. At Peninsula Health Center, we offer a unique path to addiction treatment outpatient programs. This approach allows the person to find rigorous and evidence-based drug addiction treatment that allows them to live at home and create a program that can, to some degree, fit into their current life. Getting Addiction Treatment Help in the South Bay Area If you or someone you care about is struggling with drug use and the warning signs like glossy eyes have caught your attention, Peninsula Health Center in the South Bay area of California is here to help. Our compassionate team provides evidence-based treatment, counseling, and holistic support to guide you or your loved one toward recovery. Take the first step today. Call Peninsula Health Center to schedule a confidential consultation and begin the journey to clarity and wellness. You’re not alone—we’re here to support you every step of the way. Call today: 866-934-8228.

Drug addiction isn’t a failure of willpower or a moral shortcoming; it’s a disease of the brain. This is an important reality to get out as we delve into the clinical diagnosis for addiction. Partly because for family, friends, and even enemies, misunderstanding this single reality has led to so much shame. The shame then converts into people not asking for help. It’s the same as getting a medical diagnosis and not getting help from a doctor who can save their life. That said, understanding addiction as a clinical diagnosis changes the story from judgment to compassion. This is when healing begins. Clinical Diagnosis for Addiction is a Disease of the Brain Your brain has an intricate and complex system that helps you stay alive. Things like eating, finding connections, or even having fun are essential for survival. So, your brain rewards you when you do them. The reward? Dopamine—the “feel good chemical.” Dopamine is not the problem, of course. The problem is that when drugs enter the scene, dopamine floods in beyond any natural release. The brain then (a very powerful system) rewires and creates a very strong association with pleasure and the drug. This brain rewiring makes attaining the drug the most important aspect of survival. The result? Impaired decision-making, increased cravings, and withdrawal symptoms make quitting feel impossible. The brain chemistry has changed. And at this point, willpower is not the issue. It has become a chronic brain disease that requires intervention. Helping People Understand Addiction as a Clinical Diagnosis Why does this matter anyway? Mostly, it is the paradigm shift that helps individuals with a substance use disorder move past the shame and reach out for help. It is also a community issue, as when the loved ones (or anyone) move away from blame to one of understanding and compassion, they become a conduit of change.  When someone receives a formal diagnosis, they gain more than just a name for their struggle. They gain access to a pathway for healing. Substance Use Disorder is categorized as a medical condition, and that classification opens doors to evidence-based treatments such as therapy, medications, and holistic wellness programs. Moving away from “Just quit.” Instead of being told to “figure it out,” individuals receive structured care tailored to their specific needs, grounded in a scientific understanding of addiction. Importantly, the diagnosis reframes addiction as a treatable condition. It allows individuals to see themselves not as “bad” or “weak” but as people facing a medical challenge that requires support and care. With this perspective, they can pursue recovery with a sense of hope and dignity. So what can we do here? The clinical perspective isn’t about absolving responsibility; it’s about acknowledging the complexity of addiction and providing the tools for recovery. Who Can Diagnose Addiction? A diagnosis of drug addiction, formally known as Substance Use Disorder (SUD), is made by healthcare professionals. These include: Each professional follows the same diagnostic framework, ensuring consistency and accuracy. What Are the Requirements for This Diagnosis? To diagnose Substance Use Disorder, clinicians use the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The DSM-5 lists 11 specific criteria that assess the severity of the addiction. These criteria include: This structured approach ensures an unbiased evaluation, providing the foundation for a tailored treatment plan. Recovery from the Clinical Diagnosis of Addiction One of the most profound impacts of a clinical diagnosis for an individual who has a substance use disorder is the validation. Addiction is isolating. Often times, the person with an addiction is fully aware of the damage they are doing. They have become a slave, and they don’t want to ruin their life for this substance. But they are also ashamed. They don’t feel strong and can’t figure out why they keep returning to this destruction. But when we acknowledge this condition as a serious medical issue, not a moral failure, a weight is lifted. And they become ready to listen and understand that there is a way forward. If you or someone you love is struggling with a substance use disorder, know that help is available. Addiction isn’t a moral failure. It is a diagnosable and treatable condition. Peninsula Health Center is an addiction treatment center in Palos Verdes that gets this. We are here to talk about a clinical diagnosis of addiction and create an evidence-based plan to help you find recovery. Call us today: 866-934-8228.